Chapter 514 - 508: The Rescue
Ethan Ellsworth and Quentin Grant arrived in Gryll together, but they split up. Ethan was there under the guise of holding a concert.
The concert was to be held at the stadium in the city center.
Tickets had been completely sold out in a frenzy.
When Ethan Ellsworth got off the plane, fans who had gotten wind of his arrival swarmed the airport. He didn’t use the VIP exit, instead walking right into the main terminal. The moment they saw him, the fans erupted in deafening cheers.
Wearing sunglasses, he smiled and waved at the crowd. Although he couldn’t sign autographs for everyone, he still signed quite a few.
After arriving at his hotel, he began preparing the setlist for the concert.
Famous male and female singers from Grestin would also be joining him on stage. With so many people expected, Ethan personally instructed security to be increased to prevent any injuries from overcrowding and to ensure there were absolutely no accidents.
That evening, Quentin Grant also checked into a hotel.
It was a hotel very close to Ethan Ellsworth’s concert venue.
It was also the venue where Toby Dalton was holding his birthday banquet.
The venue had long since been decorated. Toby Dalton was dressed in a white suit with a black bow tie. His hair was impeccably styled, and a blue diamond stud glittered in his left ear. He looked every bit the part of a dashing, handsome young gentleman.
If Nora Ainsworth didn’t know his true nature, she would have thought he was a very charming man.
But no matter how charming he appeared, he could never attract her.
Besides, she hadn’t forgotten that the only reason she was standing next to him was because of the false face she was wearing.
Nora Ainsworth wore a red evening gown with a halter top and a matching shawl. Her long hair was swept up into an elegant updo, revealing a smooth forehead. Her eyes were lively, her nose was delicate, and her lips were a fiery red.
Anyone who saw her would think she was breathtakingly beautiful. Of course, such beauty was only brought to its full effect by Nora Ainsworth’s unique aura.
When Nora Ainsworth stood before Toby Dalton, he was instantly captivated by her appearance.
He was in a great mood. He took her hand, and they got into the car to head to the hotel.
A fleet of luxury cars was gathered at the hotel entrance. The arrivals were all Toby Dalton’s friends, business associates, and private partners.
A-list celebrities were also there to liven up the party.
On a ninth-floor balcony, Quentin Grant stood dressed in a red suit. Ethan Ellsworth held a pair of binoculars and peered down. "They’re here."
Quentin Grant grunted in acknowledgment. "Alright, you should head to your concert."
"What’s the rush? I don’t go on for another twenty minutes," Ethan said, continuing to look down. "Mm, that guy is wearing a white suit, and Nora’s in a red evening gown."
He lowered the binoculars. "I have to say, her dress really matches your suit."
A faint smile spread across Quentin Grant’s face like a halo of light. "We’re a perfect match, let alone our clothes."
"You’re such a show-off." Ethan Ellsworth glanced at him and raised his wine glass. "Quentin, this ’swap the prince for a wildcat’ trick is tried and true. Come on, here’s to our success!"
Quentin Grant smiled confidently. "Success is the only option. Failure is not. Let’s do it!"
With a crisp clink of their glasses, the two men drained their drinks in one gulp.
They then set down their glasses and turned back into the room, leaving only the two empty glasses on the table.
As Toby Dalton and Nora Ainsworth entered the hotel, the eyes of all the guests fell upon them in unison.
Nora linked her arm with his, a smile on her face.
There were over three hundred guests, and the host was the lead anchor from a television station.
After a few opening remarks, the "Happy Birthday" song echoed through the vast venue. Toby Dalton made a wish and cut the large cake with Nora Ainsworth.
Thunderous applause erupted from the audience.
Next, Toby Dalton gave a speech. "Thank you all for attending my birthday banquet. You are all my friends. Now, please enjoy the musical performances and feel free to mingle. There’s a dance floor over there."
He had barely finished speaking when the glass doors were pushed open. Someone screamed, "Quentin Grant is here!"
The lively chatter instantly fell silent.
Countless eyes turned in unison toward the entrance.
There stood Quentin Grant, dressed in a red suit with a blue enchantress rose in his breast pocket. If a black suit made Quentin look domineering and majestic, then a red suit made him look utterly captivating.
Many had only ever seen Quentin Grant on television or in newspapers; this was the first time they were seeing him in person.
With a faint smile playing on his lips, he strode forward until he stood right in front of Nora Ainsworth and Toby Dalton.
"So you really came," Toby Dalton said.
"How could I not? You wanted me here so badly, didn’t you?" Quentin Grant’s gaze shifted to Nora Ainsworth. He hadn’t seen her in over a month, and upon seeing her again, he felt an uncontrollable urge to pull her close and kiss her.
"Please, sit." Toby Dalton uttered the two words lightly, though he was inwardly furious that Quentin was staring at the woman by his side.
"Don’t mind if I do." He took a seat opposite them.
The performances slowly began. As they watched, Quentin Grant kept looking at Nora Ainsworth so many times that Toby Dalton was about to lose his mind. Finally, he spoke up, "Saphira, I’ve had a private lounge prepared for you upstairs. If you’re tired, you can go up and rest."
Nora Ainsworth naturally didn’t refuse. "Alright. But... will you take me up?"
This was the opportunity she had been waiting for.
However, she also knew that Toby Dalton had his own plan. He was determined not to let Quentin Grant escape and had laid an inescapable trap for him.
"Saphira, I’ll have someone escort you," he said, predictably refusing to go himself.
Nora Ainsworth stood up and smiled. "Mr. Grant, why don’t you escort me instead?"
Her words instantly made Toby Dalton’s eyes darken menacingly.
Before Quentin Grant could answer, he shot to his feet. "I’ll take you."
Toby Dalton’s reaction made Nora Ainsworth laugh coldly to herself.
As the two of them walked into the elevator, Nora Ainsworth glanced back at Quentin Grant. From a distance, their eyes met. Though nothing was said, it was as if they had reached a mutual understanding.
Toby Dalton opened the door. "Saphira, you rest here. I’ll be busy downstairs for a little while, but I’ll come up to keep you company soon, alright?"
Nora Ainsworth pulled him inside and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Toby, it’s your birthday today. I want to give you a present. I wonder if you’ll like it?"
"What is it?" His eyes lit up as if he had already guessed.
Nora Ainsworth untied her shawl, letting it fall to the floor to reveal her delicate shoulders. Her gaze was scorching. "What do you think?"
"Saphira, you... Why the sudden change of heart...?"
Nora sat on the edge of the bed. "Fine... I get it... I’ll just stay as I was..."
"Saphira..." Toby Dalton grew anxious. "That’s not what I meant. I just don’t understand why you would..."
"If you’re not willing, then you can just go back downstairs."
"I... Of course I’m willing!" He ripped off his bow tie, shrugged out of his suit jacket and threw it to the floor, then stripped off his shirt, baring his torso.
He lowered his head to kiss Nora Ainsworth’s lips. Nora obediently lay back on the bed as he climbed on top of her.
Pinning her beneath him, he looked at her. "You’re so beautiful."
Nora suddenly gave him a push. "How about we have some wine to set the mood?"
He got up, deftly grabbed a bottle of red wine, uncorked it, and poured it into two wine glasses.
They touched glasses. Nora took a small sip, while he drained his in one go.
Putting down her glass, Nora pressed a hand to her head. "Why does my head hurt a little?"
Toby Dalton went over to check on her. "What’s wrong?"
Just as he finished speaking, his vision went black, and he collapsed onto the bed.
"Ah, my head hurts so much... Toby? Wake up!" She instinctively shoved him a few times. Seeing that he didn’t stir, Nora immediately pulled out the handcuffs she had prepared and cuffed both of his hands.
Then, she sent a text message to Quentin Grant.
Shortly after, Quentin Grant came up with several men.
To deceive the security cameras, Nora feigned unconsciousness and was carried out of the hotel along with Toby Dalton.
Once they were in the parked car outside, Nora sat up straight in the passenger seat.
She had the men bind Toby Dalton’s feet with iron chains and tape his mouth shut. Only then did she feel completely at ease.
A new driver took the wheel. Quentin Grant and Nora Ainsworth sat in the back. The window shades were all drawn, and the interior lights were turned on.
There was no time for a tender reunion. Quentin Grant took out the disguise kit Walsh had prepared for him, and Nora personally applied it. Fortunately, although the process was painful, Nora didn’t need to hold him down; Quentin controlled himself through sheer willpower.
The car drove steadily through the night. After everything was done, Nora rubbed her head. "I took a small sip and then spit it back into the glass, but I’m still a little dizzy."
Quentin Grant took her hand. "You silly girl, you only needed to drug one of the glasses."
"Drugging both was a precaution, just in case," Nora said, pointing to the unconscious Toby Dalton. "Hurry up and change into his clothes."
Quentin Grant knew there was no time to delay and changed clothes right there in the car.
Finally, Nora took off Toby Dalton’s diamond earring and put it on Quentin Grant. With that, he looked identical to Toby, like a twin brother.
She gave him a thumbs-up. "Quentin, whether we can rescue your mother-in-law now depends entirely on your brilliant acting."
He smiled at her, rested his head on her shoulder, and said coaxingly, "My dear wife, your husband doesn’t need to act. My natural aura alone is enough to overpower him."
Nora smiled knowingly. The car stopped a short distance from Toby Dalton’s territory. Quentin Grant got out, and Nora walked beside him, just as she always did with Toby, all the way to the entrance.
As soon as they got out, the car turned around and drove back the way it came.
The guard at the gate was surprised to see them return. "Young Master Dalton, why are you and Miss Sutton back so early?"
"Hmph." Quentin Grant grunted through his nose, putting on a display of displeasure. "We have to go out again later."
He strode inside with Nora following behind.
Nora led him back to Toby Dalton’s bedroom, which also served as his office.
Once inside, Nora immediately bolted the door. Then, following Nora’s directions, Quentin activated a hidden mechanism, and they headed to the dungeon.
He walked directly to the iron door of Faye Sinclair’s cell and stopped. In a cold voice, he ordered, "Open the door."
"Yes, Young Master Dalton."
A man standing nearby immediately unlocked the iron door. Quentin Grant ducked his head and stepped inside, with Nora following him.
"Men, bring this old woman upstairs for me!"
The subordinates didn’t dare to hesitate and immediately complied. "Yes, sir."
Everything was going incredibly smoothly.
Faye Sinclair was hauled to her feet. She remained motionless as she was dragged out and taken upstairs.
Quentin Grant led Nora Ainsworth out, and the men followed, supporting Faye Sinclair as they all went downstairs.